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DA candidates raising cash; self-funder Untermeyer leads pack

Candidates for district attorney of Philadelphia have raised more than $800,000 for the upcoming race, according to campaign finance reports filed Tuesday.

The leader in the race for cash so far is former prosecutor Michael Untermeyer, who loaned his campaign $300,000.

The reports, which reflect campaign funds on hand as of Dec. 31, show incumbent District Attorney Seth Williams with $74,829 to spend.

Williams has the assets of incumbency and name recognition, and the liability of a reported federal investigation into his personal and campaign finances. Williams has said he’s done nothing wrong and doesn’t expect to be charged.

Untermeyer’s infusion of cash triggered the so-called “millionaires rule” doubling the contribution limits under the city campaign finance law. The limits for the race are set at $6,000 for individuals, and $23,800 for political committees and unincorporated business organizations.

One candidate, former city Managing Director Rich Negrin, has said he won’t raise money from lawyers whose primary area of practice requires them to appear regularly in cases prosecuted by the Office of the District Attorney.

Williams has four announced challengers in the May 16 Democratic primary, and the field could change before the March 7 filing deadline. Former prosecutor Beth Grossman is the only announced Republican candidate.

Untermeyer’s campaign manager, Tommy McDonald said in an interview that Untermeyer had loaned his campaign another $250,000 which is not reflected in the official reports filed so far.

The chart below shows the fundraising for announced candidates for Philadelphia district attorney and city controller, according to reports filed Tuesday. The amounts reflect funds raised through Dec. 31.